Cute (George Weasley X Jennica)

  Jennica approached the bland wall. Hogwarts was full of secrets, too many to count. Over the five years she had been here, there was one secret that the Weasley twins hadn’t taught her.

  A large oak door with steal hinges and bindings emerged from the solid wall. The room beyond the door had human sized puppets floating above the wood floor. Several candles and torches lighted the windowless room. If she wanted windows, she knew they would appear.

  A couch lined one wall with a desk next to it. A small kitchen area sat in one corner, complete with an ice-cooler and oven. There was even a sink. Another door off to the side led to a bathroom. She glanced at the counter and saw a plate of cheesecake sitting on a plate with a fork next to it, along with a glass of milk off to the side. The Room of Requirement certainly thought of everything.

  Mad-Eye-Moody, her godfather, had told her about this place. This is where she came when she needed to practice spells that were above her year…and where she went when she had a particularly bad day.

  Today, it was those stupid Beauxbatons. They flaunted through Hogwarts like they owned the place and the boys in it. They grabbed the attention of everyone, The Durmstrangs, Hogwarts boys…and even the Weasley twins. She had practically grown up with the Weasley family. The twins were basically brothers to her, replacing the family she didn’t have. Sure, there was Moody, but he was gone almost as much as her parents.

  Jennica finished off the cheesecake, washing off the plate and walked to the training area. A breeze of air rushed past her, almost like a ghost had flown past. The puppets whirled to life, forming a circle around her. A wand was held in each of their wooden hands.

  What she enjoyed most about practicing in her, was the room knew she needed real danger to practice. The puppet not only moved like humans, but they could cast simple spells at her as well.

  She flicked her arm, making sure her wand was still in its brace. A simple leather armband was fastened to her left forearm, with two loops that her wand rested in. It made for simple access to her wand.

  One figure raised its arm, but it was knocked to the ground before it could complete the motion. Jennica landed lightly on the balls of her feet, ready to move again. Her kick was sloppy, Moody wouldn’t approve.

  Two more figures raised their wands and shot simple repelling spells. Ducking underneath them easily, she pulled out her wand with her right hand. Running up to one of the puppets, she leapt up and vaulted off it. The figure crashed to the ground, taking another one out with it.

  Three down, seven more to go.

  Shooting a spell at one, it collapsed to the floor. She kicked the head off another one, barely avoiding a swinging arm. Coming out of a crouch she saw the last five rush at her. Two shot spells at her, one swept to the side and the other two swung their arms.

  She leapt to the side, dodging four of them. Unfortunately, she leapt into the path of the one that had swung to the side. It plowed into her, throwing her to the ground. Her wand flung out of her reach, clattering a few feet to her right.

  Rolling out from the foot that was about to stomp on her, she punched a few rapid hits to where its ribs were supposed to be. Since it was wood, it barely had any effect on it. It would have broken someone’s ribs, bruised at least.

  The puppet swung its arm, trying to catch her off guard again. Quickly jumping to the side, she snagged her wand.

  Block, strike. Dodge, jump, spin, strike.

  Two more fell.

  Jump, strike, strike, jump.

  Only one left.

  The figure swung high, allowing her to duck under and get closer. A foot slammed into her stomach, hard. It sent her sliding across the floor, gasping for breath. The figure jumped over to her, staring down at her.

  Rage filler her vision. She wasn’t going to loose, not today. Gathering her legs underneath her, she leapt up and started punching the puppet.

  Luckily, she had her Beater gloves on. The muggles called them biker gloves, but Beater gloves were specially padded at the knuckles. Thankfully she had kept them on, or her knuckles would have been shredded to a pulp.

  By the time she realized the puppet had collapsed on the ground, she became aware of something else. Someone was walking toward her, with her wand in hand.

  She looked up farther and saw a mess of red hair, somewhat covering a pair of concerned brown eyes. It was George Weasley.

  “Hey, you okay? You took some nasty hit there.” He extended her wand out to her, which she gratefully accepted.

  “Thanks. Yeah, I’m fine. How did you find me?”

  George pulled the Marauders Map out of his pocket. “You just vanished. The only explanation was the Room of Requirement.”

  “You were watching me? I’m flattered. Where’s Fred?”

  “He’s with Kams. They’re studding for something, potions…maybe.” George shrugged.

  “More like goofing off. I haven’t seen you two study in all the years I’ve known you.”

  George bowed low. “I’m flattered you noticed.”

  Jennica chuckled and headed for the couch, which had moved conveniently closer. She plopped down, wincing as it jarred her ribs. “That’s definitely going to bruise.”

  “Maybe you should be more careful.”

  She snorted. “Thanks. How long were you watching anyway?”

  George shrugged, sitting next to her. “Towards the beginning, you’re quite a good acrobat. I liked that kick you did at the beginning, very impressive.”

  “Thanks. Though…if you were there from the beginning, you’re quite rude for not helping me.”

  “I didn’t help because I knew you’d be mad at me for getting in the way. I like to keep my head where it is.”

  The two of you laugh, before sitting in a comfortable silence. Jennica leaned her head back against the couch, enjoying the silence. She tried to keep the blush off her face as she felt George’s arm brush against hers as he shifted he weight. Out of all the guys to have a crush on, she had to choose one who had an identical twin. Twins that were: mischievous, funny, rule-breaking, free flyer and very, very attractive.

  “Jenny?”

  “Yeah?” She would never tell, but she loved his nickname for her.

  “Are you okay? You seemed upset earlier.”

  She sighed. “Yeah, just a rough day. I’ll be fine.”

  “No, seriously. Jordan told me some of the Beauxbaton girls were saying some pretty rude stuff.”

  ‘You’ll never get a boy.’ They sneered. ‘You’re not pretty enough.’

  ‘Look at that hair! Who puts blue in their hair?’

  ‘You really are a loser. It’s no wonder you don’t have any friends.’

  “It’s nothing George, really.” She rose from the couch, wincing as she stretcher her stomach.

  She walked over the puppets and drew her wand. She began putting the puppets away with a few simple flicks of her wand. A larger hand grabbed her, halting her spell. A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders and gently spun her to face them. She had to look up nearly a foot up to look into their face.

  “Jenny, you’re not okay. I can tell it’s bothering you. Besides, I’ve noticed that you only disappear when you’re upset.”

  She hung her head, he was right. Training was her way of venting and the peace was nice.
  “I don’t know what they said and I’m not going to ask. I just want you to know that you’re the second greatest person I’ve met.”

  Jennica looked up at him, mock hurt on her face. “Second? Who could possibly beat me?”

  “Fred.”

  They laughed at his joke, but they both knew it was true. The twins were inseparable.

  “Seriously though, don’t let what they said bother you. They’re not that special anyway.”

  Jennica looked up and was pleasantly surprised to see that he meant it. “Really?”

  “Yeah, they parade around like they deserve you attention. They’re just showy, which is why you’re better than all of them. You’re honest, loyal and kind. You’re intelligent, funny, brave and…” George muttered the last part.

  “What was that last part?” Jennica grinned, holding one hand behind her ear.

  “Nothing.”

  “Liar. What did you say?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Come one, tell me!”

  “Okay, okay. I think you’re cute, Jenny. I think you’re the cutest girl in the world.”

  Jennica blushed and saw that he was blushing too.

  “I think you’re cute too.”

  A simile broke out on his face. “Well then, do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me? We’ll be the cutest couple there.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Jennica and George left the Room of Requirement hand in hand, smiling like idiots.